Car classification system for railroads



Filed Nov. 25, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 1' March 19, 1940.- F. w. BRIXNER ETAL CAR CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS FIG 1.

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-4... PBK- INVENTORS FWBr'ixnei'flancl NB. M'TOIQNEY March 19, 1940. F.w; BRIXNER ET AL CAR CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR RAILR OADS 6 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Nov. 25, 1938 Coley MK,

- March 19; 1940.

F. W. BRIXNER El AL 7 QA!\ CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS 6Sheets-Sheet 3 |NVENTOR5 FWBmxner and N.B.Co|e

ATTORNEY Pilqd Nov. 25. 1938 A+ 4 B no on:

March 19, 1940. F. w. BRIXNER EI'AL CAR CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FORRAILROADS Filed Nov. 25, 1938 s Sheets- Sheet 4 qU xcs umsopm leg 0 S YRd M o R m .o E? H M n A IN N E H WB T F Much 19, 1940. F. w. BRIXNER ElAL CAR CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR RAILRO ADS Filed Nov. 25, 193B 6Sheets-Sheet 5 6 m QILJ I We h l OHTND IAN R v F m m .6 fi mww 3 9 i at:n

N.B.Coley VMZZ THEIR ATTORNEY March 19, 1940. F. w. BRIXNER r AL2,194,352

CAR CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR 'RAILROADS Filed NOV. 25, 193B 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 E 4 1 m y 1 FIG. 6-

I Unit B Unit A Umt D UnitC Unit E INVENTORS FVg Brixner and NBColeyTHEIR ATToNEY 1 'lli Patented Mar. I9, 1940 PATENT o n CARCLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS I Frederick W. Brixner, Gates, andNelson B. Coley, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to General Railway SignalCompany, Rochester, N. Y.-

Application November 25, 1938, Serial No. 242,250

24 Claims.

these track switches, each switch being operated before a car reachesit, and is an improvement over the prior application of Robert M.Phinn'ey l Ser. No. 111,671, filed November 19, 1936.

A hump-yard classification yard is a yard of tracks and track switches,wherein a single track leading from a hump or bill diverges into a largenumber of storage tracks through suitable track switches. In practice,cars or trains of 1 cars, or cuts of cars as they are sometimes called,are allowed to run down the hump or hill in close succession, each trainor car to a particular storage track. In practice a large'number of suchcars or trains may follow each other off of the hump in closesuccession, and in order that a track switch may'assume the properposition when a particular car reaches it, it is often necessary thatoperation of the track switch be started immediatelyupon vacancy of thedetector track circuit associated therewith by the car next in advance.In other words, the requirement of time of operation of trackswitches isoften so precise that automatic control of the track 30 switchesisdesirable in order that a track switch may be operated justas soon asits detector track circuit becomes unoccupied. Since the cars to beclassified may be so closely spaced that several differentlyclassifiable cars may occupy the same 3 stretch of track between twosuccessivetrack switches,it is necessary to have suitable traindescribing apparatus which will store, so to speak, the destination atparticular car of several cars is to take, so that this stored.indication'mayoperate the track switch before the car designatedthereby reaches such track switch, In modern hump-yard trainclassification systems the cars, or cuts of cars, are retarded or brakedby suitable track brakes, whichtrack brakes are 0 controlled from abrakemanstower locatedlbelow the hump and near the storage tracks of theproposed to employ a train describer system which employs a plurality ofrelays in each storage bank and wherein a particular train destinationmay be. stored by the arrangement of energized and deenerg ized relaysin this storage relay bank. That is, the train destination is 5 storedin code fashion, such that seven different train destinations may bestored on three storage'relays. It is proposed to employ a plurality ofstorage relay banks in each storage unit, and to provide suitable'meanswhereby a particular train destination may be transferred from onestorage relay bank to another storage relay bank in the same storageunit as'soon as the bank indicating the earlier train is vacated, thestorage relay bankwhich represents the first car on the stretch of trackbelonging to the unit including such bank with the track switch at theexit end of such stretch and to operate the'track switch automaticallyin accordance with the destination which is stored insuch firstrelaybank in that storage unit. It is further proposed to provide suitablemeans whereby the passage of a train over a track switch, after suchtrack switch has been operated by the first relay group in a storageunit associated therewith, to transfer this stored description or cardestination into a storage unit associated with the stretch of trackwhichwas sele fied by the latter track switch, and to cause the nexttrack switch to be controlled by the stored destination-whenthat carpasses over said latter track switch, provided of course that there isno car ahead to prevent such operation, and to again transfer the cardestina- "tion to the particular storage unit associated with the trackselected by said next track switch when the car reaches it. It isfurther proposed to provide-suitable means whereby a particular trackswitch may be operated manually instead of automatically if that isfound necessary for any purpose. It is alsopropos'ed in accordance withthe present invention to provide means for cancelling a traindescription ifth'is'train description to be cancelled has not passedthrough a point beyond the'first' 'track switch encountered'in thehump-yard system.

' Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the presentinvention will in part be obvious from the drawings and will in part bemore fully described in the specification.

In the drawings; 60 Fig. 1 shows the push button unit including a,series of push buttons one for each storage track together with "a groupof push button storage relays, two push button relays for each relay inthe storage relay bank of a storage unit, this apparatus preferablybeing located in the brakemans tower illustrated in Fig. 4.

Figs. 2 and 2A show the first storage unit containing three storagerelay banks together with the necessary apparatus to operate twodifferent track switches, together with the necessary outgoing Wiregroups to control three different storage units one. for each of thethree tracks that may be selected by the two track switches.

Fig. 3 shows storage unit C including two banks of storage relays, onebank for storing the first train to reach a switch, and the other forstoring the destination of a second train to reach the switch, togetherwith the necessary apparatus'for operating theswitch machine at thatswitch and together with the necessary out-going wires to lead to astorage unit for each'of'the tracks which may be selected by such trackswitch. Storage units B, C, D and Eare substantially identical exceptfor the specific decoding circuits used to control the indicating lampsand the switchmachine, and these decoding circuits have been shown inFig. 6.

Fig. 4 illustrates the actual track layout together with the varioustrack switches, switch machines, and track relays, and together withscribing a certain train destination.

" push button will send a car.

the hump control board located on top of the hump and the brakemanstower located near the storage tracks.

Fig. 5 shows a portion of the control and indication panel located inthe brakemans tower, where also is preferably located the apparatusshown in Figs. 2, 2A and 3. I

Fig. 6.illustrates the decoding wiring for the lamps for storage unitsA, B, C, D and E, the wiring for 'unit A also being shown in Figs. 2 and2A and the wiring for unit C also being shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 shows how if Fig. 3 is reproduced, as by making photostat copiesthereof and by amending the decoding circuits as-shown in Fig 6, theentire system selected to illustrate the present invention may be builtup by connecting the Figs. 1, 2, 2Aand 3 together as illustrated in this'Figf'l of the drawings.

Structure Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings the relays P and N havingassociated therewith prefixes l, 2 or 3 designate the nature of a codefor de- For stance, if we assume P to mean positive and N to meannegative then the energization of the relays IP, 2P and 3P woulddesignate a code, whereas with the relays IN, 2N and 3P energized a codeis characterized. By reference to the wiring of Fig 1 it will be seenthat the codes for each of the various push buttons are as follows: forPBF is FBG is ,PBH is +,PBI is PB'JiS PBK is ,and for PBL is These codeshave also been indicated over the,

push buttons. The last letter in each of these push button referencecharacters designates the storage track illustrated in Fig. 4 to whichsuch It'will be obvious from the drawings that the depression of thefirst push button PBF will result in the picking. up of the relays IP,2F and 3P and will result in the illumination of the first indicatinglamp 1, and that in each case the depression of a push button willresult in the illumination of a lamp designated by a lettercorresponding to the last letter of the push button reference character.

Also, these lamps and the storage, trackstheyv represent are located inthe same order as are the push buttons. The relay CSP is the deliveryThe blocking relay BB is employed to prevent a new car destination ordescription being set up in the push button relay group until theprevious description hasbeen fully transferred and stored in one of thestorage banks in storage unit A, as will be manifested by the picking upof the transfer relay for that bank (relay ATR. for storage bank A Themore important function of the relay BR is to cancel the traindestination stored in the push button relays, as by opening of its frontcontact 29, after this train destination has been stored in one of thestorage banks. It may be pointed out that Fig. 3 has been shown wired upto constitute unit C'and that if Figs. 1,2 and 3 are connectedend-to-end'it will show that part of the train classification systeminvolving. track switches SW SW and SW illustrated in Fig. 4 of thedrawings. 1

Referring to Figs. 2 and 2A of the drawings, which illustrate storageunit A, comprising three storage anks of relays desig'nated IA 2A 3A IA2A 3A and lA 2A 3A The prefix in each of these reference charactersdesignates the number of the code relay of 'a particular bank, theletter A in these reference characters designates that these code relaysare associated with the track switches A and'form part ofstorage. unitA, and the exponent in each of these reference characters designates theorder of the train described in such relay unit. For-instance,

the relays IA 2A and 3A designate that the first train to approach oneof the track switches A has been stored and is defined inaccordance withwhich of these relays are then energized. The second train to approachthe track switch A is stored in the group of code relays IA 2A and -3AWhereas the thirdtrain toapproach :7 I

the next relay bank, and therelays ATRJR and A'IR R are repeater relaysfor transfer relays ATRI and A'I'Pt respectively, which I relays ATR Rand ATRFR render the associated storage relay bank effective to receivethe next train description.- l

The relay T is a detector track relay for the detector track sectionassociated with the track switches SW4 and. SW and this, track relay isalso shown in Fig. 4. of the drawings. This track relay T (see Fig. 2A)has associated therewith a track repeater relay T A, a second trackrepeater relay T B, and a-third track repeater relay T C.

*As shown in Fig. 4, the detector track circuit containingtrack relay Thas associated with it two track switches each provided with a switchmachine, these switch machines being designated SM? and SM. The controlcircuits for these switch. machines have been illustrated-in.

Inv

, 2,194,352 Figii 2A-of the .drawings theswitch machine JSM F. beingcontrolled by, switch'machine control relaysNR and RR}. and the switchmachine .SM is'controlled by'control relaysNR and RR -Also,.,.the switchmachine SM controlsswitch machine repeater... relays NWP and RWP whereasthe switch .machine SM controls switch machine repeater relays NW1 andRWP Theselswitch machines control ,relays NR ,.RR

':NR?. and RR and may be, controlled auto matically through frontcontacts of the storage rela 1A1, 2A and 3A ormaybe controlled manuallyby I switch machine control levers SM lL and sM L.

is. identical to that. illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings except, forthe omission of certain can'- in Fig. 3

.The apparatusshownin Fig.3 of the' drawings celling-features which areperformed by the can.-

"eels-relay. CAN shown in Fig. 1 and except for the ornissionofthecontrol circuit for the blocking relay BR shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. The

control ,circuits for the switch machineshown machine shown in Fig. 3must at times .assume a different position than does one or the otherof: the. switch machines shown in Fig.2 for the same code.

' heretofore pointed out, referring toFig. 1,

the circuits for the indicating lamps f, g, h, i,

1' ;.k Z, when all ofthe. contacts of the N relays are .disregardedtheybeing checking contacts,

ware characteristicof the seven codes set .up. by push. buttons PBF,PBG, PBI-I, PBI, PBJ, PBK andJPBL, respectively. In other words; thecir- CllltS for these lamps f to Z, inclusive, characterize .thesevencodes of the system illustrated. Re.-

.ferriing now to Fig. i it will be noted that the .-.switch SW must beoperated to itsreverse .=position.for the first two routes tostoragetracks ancl Gandforthe first two codes and and should be operatedto its normal gposition-for the remaining five codes, and referring to.the contacts associatedwith relays lA -.2A andtA .(see' Fig. 2A) itwill be noted that similar circuits associated with these relays aresuchthat the circuit portion characteristic of the-first twocodescompletes a pick -up circuit for the switch machine control relayRR and that the circuits reflecting the'remaining' five codes close apick-up circuit for the switch machine-[control relay NR Also, referringto 4, it will be noted-that- SW must assume. its. normalf position forthe first three codes and-must assume its jr'everseposition forthe. lastfour codes, accord ingly, the circuit portions, reflectingthe'firstthree'codes-and associated with the "relays 1A 2A and 3A (see Fig. 2A):arecharacteristic of thefirst'three codesforthe lamps f, g and h of Fig.l and close a pick-up circuit for the "relay NR whereas the circuitportions characteristic 'of the last four oodesclose a pick-up circuitfor the relay R3 Furthermore, referring again to be noted that theswitches sw and v are, of course somewhat different from the circuitsshown in .Fig. Zbecause the switch the track switch lamp 0 is lighted ifany one of the last four codes is set up in this relay bank A Referringagain to Fig. 4 and particularly to switch SW9, it will be noted thatthis switch SW should rem'ainin its normal position for the sixth andseventh code and should vbe oper ated to its'reverse position for thefourth and fifth code, and referring to the contacts asso- .ciated withcode relays'lC 2C and 30 (see Fig. 3) it will be noted that the relay NRis picked up if either the sixth or seventh code has been set up in thisrelay bank and that the switclrmachine control relay RR. ispicked up ifeither the. fourth or fifth code is set up in this relay. bank. I r

Referringto Figs. 2 and 2A in addition to the indication lamps b, h', 0containing suitable exponentscorresponding to the relay bank andassociated with storage unit A, there are also provided indicating lampsBL, HL and CL. These latter indicating, lamps indicatehowthe trackswitches SW and SW are positioned in corre-' spondence with theircontrol relays andshow .the fact that these control relays areenergized.

These indicating lamps BL, HL and CL are shown on the miniature trackdiagram illustrated in Fig. 5 in the miniature tracks connecting unit Awith unit 13, the middle track H, and unit C, respectively. Thelampsindicating the trains actually stored in the three storage relay banksand designated b M, 01; h .72 c and 13 h and c are also located onthisminiature track diagramv and are shown associated with unit A of thisdiagram. In a similar manner,

indicating lamps DL and EL illustrating the position of the track switchSW in correspondence with its control relays are shown in the miniaturerails emanatingfrom miniature track switch SW in Fig. 5 and theindicating lamps (1 e 11 and e indicate the destination of two trainswhich may be stored in the two relay banks I C similar manner, theindicating lamps for storage unit D and unit E have beenillustrated inFig. 5.-

of thedrawings, and the control circuits for these lamps havebeenshownin Fig. 6.

Each of the switch machines SM, having an exponent A, B, C, D. or E, has'ass'ociatedwith it a detector track relay'T, having a correspondingexponent. These detector track relays have been illustrated in Fig. 4,and of these track relays the rack relays T and T have been shown inFigs. 2A and 3; respectively. If Fig. 3

were reproduced photostatically to represent unitvB, unit D or unit E,these track relays would be designated T T and T respectively, and in asimilar manner such reproductions of Fig. 3, when used to constituteunit B1, unit D or unit of Fig.5, would have the letters C'designatingthe unit of Fig. 3 changed to B, D or E, as the casemay require.Similarly, the other reference char-- and C of storage unit C. In aacters would have to be changed by substituting the proper letter forthe letter C in Fig. 3. Also,

the circuits for the indicating lamps and switch machines would have tobe changed to conform toFig.-6.

Operation Referring to Fig. 4, let usassume that there is a train at thetop of the hump and that the hump operator wishes to place the firstfour cars, orcuts of cars, into storage tracks I; J, K

and L in that order, and that he presses the push buttons FBI, PBJ, PBKand BBL in that order as he releases these cars or 'cuts of cars oneafter another. The hump operator will therefore first depress the pushbutton PBI, assigned a code of as a resuit'of which the relays 3N willbe picked up through a similar pick-up circuit with the exception thatit includes a back contact of the relay CSP. Relays IP, 2N and 3N willthen remain stuck up'through stick circuits including their .stickcontacts 25,

27 and '28 respectively, and including the front contact 233 of therelay BR. As soon as the push button PBI is released the followingpick-up circuit for the relay CSP is closed: beginning atthe terminalfront contact 3.! of the relay IP,

back contact 32 of the relay EN, back contact 33 of the relay 2P, frontcontact 34 of the relay 2N, back contact 35 of the relay 3P, frontcontact 36 of the relay 3N, back contacts of the push button PBF, PBG,PBH, PBI, PBJ, PBK and PBL in series and the windingof the relay CSP tothe terminalj(). With the relay CSP in its attracted position a stickcircuit for this relay is closed including its stick contact ill and thecontacts 3! to 36, inclusive, in series. Picking up of the deliveryrelay CSP breaks the pick-up circuits for all of the relays iP, iN, 2P,2N, SP and 3N. Also, picking up of the delivery relay CSP closes thedelivery circuit thereby transferring the code stored in these relays Pand N to one of the three banks of code relays A A or A contained in thefirst storage unit A'shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings; In other, words,if a relay P. is energized a corresponding relay in one of the banks ofunit A will be energized insuch storage vF l iii

bank, but if a relay N is energizedthecorresponding storage relay inunit A will remain deenergized. relays iP, 2N and 3N there is only'onerelay P energized, namely, the relay iP, only one of the relays in astorage group will be energized, namely, the first storage relay ofabank. In the present instance, since all three of the storage banks ofthe first storage unit are vacant only the relay IA of the first storagebank'is energized, and this relay is picked up through the followingpick-up circuit: beginning at the terminal front contact 40 of the relayBR, front contact M of the relay CSP, front contact 52 of the relay lP,back contact d3 of the relay ATR back contact Ml of the relay ATB R,back contact ib of the relay ATR back contact 46' of the relay AIR R,back contact an of the relay 'ATR), winding of the relay IA to the otherterminal With this relay iA now assuming its energized position thefollowing stick circuit for thisrelay is closed: beginning at theterminal front contact &6 of the relay T B, and the stick contact d9 ofrelay 1A =With the storage code relay 4A now pickedup the energizingcircuit for the relay BR is broken at the back contact 5! of this relay,iA jthe contacts .50 and remaining closed. Dropping of the relay BRopens the stick circuits for the relays iP, 2N and 3N at the frontcontact 29 of the relay BR.

Dropping of these relays HP, 2N and 3N breaks energizing circuit forrelay ATR L energizing, circuit is :really a stick circuit because f:the contact i5 3 of relay ATR R attimes repeats i In other words, sincefor the group of the :stick :circuit for the relay see at the as tact 53of relay ATR backcontact -54 of relay J .A'llR R'and front contact 55 ofthe storagefcode relay i-A through the'winding of relay ATR to Pickingup ofgthe.

the other terminal transfer relay ATE, opens the contacts 41,;51' f and58tincluded in'the transfer wires located between the storage relays ofthe first "and the second bank of relays inthefirst storage unit A .(seeFig. "2), so that a second code cannot be transmitted to the storagerelay of bank ;Af

Picking up of the transferrel'ay A'IR. closes n energizing circuit forthe repeater transferrelay .ATR R including the front contactbt of-th'e1 'transferrelayATR v With this repeater transfer relay -A' 1-R R.-.IioW energized it is'stuck up through a stick circuit} including thefront contact .52 of ,the' relayCSRj the back contact iii of therepeater-transfer-relay ATR RTand the stick contact $2 of the repeatertransfer relay .ATR R. Also, with the repeater transfer relay A'IR Renergizing (the energizing circuit for, the transfer relay A'IfR istransferred from the back contact 5dof relay ATRlRfto' the front.contact ofv this relay, receiving ener'gyjdi- .rectly from the:terminal'of abatteryi -In this connection it may be pointed outthat;.th--

relay ,AfIR is sufficiently slowdropping so that, y

it will not drop during the time. the contactv 54 of the repeatertransfer relaysA'IR R is shifted from its back to its frontjcontact toclosea direct c This direct contact :59

the firstcar has now been, stored in the first or: i I

age bankA andv the transfer relays A-TR and the transfer relay ATRholds'open the-pick-fun circuits for the storage relays A at.contafitsll, I '57 and 58 and .therepeater; transfer relay 'ATR'iR' ATRR are now energized as a result of which at its contacts fill, 6d and 65connects the'fpi'ck 7 'up circuit'for the storage relays for the relay,

- to- With the first car destination stored in the bank A to the codebus.

:first .storage relay bank A? an energizing circuit for the switchmachine control relay NR i is closed, which maybetraced asfollowszibeginning at the terminal (+),micldle contact or; a 'switch'machine control lever SM L,;frontcon tact 63 of the transfer relay ATRfront] contact. a 6! of storage relay 1A back contact 63.01 .st'oragerelay 2A back contact 69 of storage relay 3A back cont-act ill of theswitchmachinecone trol relay R31 through thewinding of the switchmachine controlrelay NR to the other terminal of the battery. Completionof thiscircuit willscause .energization-of therelay NR} and will in turncause the switch machine EM to be operated to its normal position} if.it does not already assume the normal position, through a circuitbeginning at the terminal of, the battery; through front contact?! ofthe detector machineacontrol relay NR through the normal of the;battery. =.As.soon as the switchfma- 1o "track relay T front'contact 12of the switch circuit of j the switch ;-machine, to the terminal beenfully locked up the normal switch machine repeater relay NWP will beenergizedf. 3

Also, with the storage relay IA energized the following circuit for theswitch machine control relay RR?- will be closed: beginning at theterminal middle contact of the switch-machine lever SM L, front contact14 of the transfer relay ATR front contact "I of the storage relay IAback contact "iii of the storage relay 2A back contact 'il oftho storagerelay 3A back contact It of the switch machine control relay NR throughthe winding of the switch machine control relay RR to the other terminalof the battery. With the switch machine control relay RR energized andwith the detector track relay ,T energized the reverse circuit for theswitch machine SM is closed through the following circuit: beginningatthe terminal front contact '59. of the relay T and front .contact 80 ofthe switch machine control relay RR. The completion of this circuitwilloperate the switch machine SM and the track switch SW to the reverseposition,' and as soon as operation of the switch machine has startedthe switch machine indication relay N'WP is deenergized and as soon astheswitch has completed its stroke and has been fully locked up theswitch' machine repeater relay RWlE' is energized.-

With the switch machine control" relays NR and BB energized and'with theswitch machine repeater relays NWP and RWP energized the followingenergizing circuit for the indicating lamp CL is closed: beginning'atthe terminal front contact 82 of the relayNR front contact 83 of therelay N'WP front'contact 84 of the relay RR and frontcontact 85 oftherelay RWP thus illuminating the lamp CL. Through similar code reflectingcircuits as those employed for controlling the switch control relaysNRRR NR an RR the indicating lamp c is also energized through a circuitbeginning at the terminal of the battery, front contact 86 of the relaylA back contact 81 of the relay 2A and back contact 88 of the relay 3Athus illuminating this lamp.

The hump tower operator will in the meantime have depressed thepush-button PBJ to reflect 'a code and will have caused the energizationof the relays IN, 2? and 3P through pick-up circuits similar to thoseheretofore traced, in response to which the relay CSP isagain picked upand stuck up through its stick circuit. Also, by reason of theenergization of the transfer relay ATR as heretofore explained, therelay ER, is again energized, but this. time through the followingcircuit: beginning at the.

terminal through front contact 90 of the transfer relay ATR backcontactsSI, 92 and 93 of the storage relays 3A 2A and IA through back contact 94of thertransfe'r relay ATRF, through back contacts Q5, 55 and '91 ofstorage relays 3A 2A and IA through back contact 98 of the transferrelay ATR "AS soon as the relay CSP picks up and sticks up, the relay BRbeing again energized, as just explained, the.

second code stored in the push button relays P and N, namely, code istransferred to the second bank of storage relays A of the storage unitA. Since in this case'there are two relays P energized, namely} relays2P and BP the storage relays 2A and 3A will .be energized throughpick-up circuits including front contacts 64 and Gliof the repeatertransfer relay A'IRJR. As soon as the storage relays 2A and 3A areenergized the energizing circuit for the minal blocking'relay, BB. isbroken at the back contacts 92 and 9| of these relays. With thestoragedeliveryrelay CSP, as a result of which an ener-.

sizing circuit for the transfer relay A'I'R which may be traced asfollows, is closed: beginning at the terminal back contact 52 of therelay CSP, back contact IIl I of the transfer relay ATR back contact I05of the repeater transfer relay ATR R, front contacts I06 and I0! ofrelays 2A and 3A in multiple, through the winding of the transfer relayATP. to the terminal of the battery. g

The picking up of the transfer relay ATR results in the closure of anenergizing circuit for the repeater transfer relay ATR R including thefront contact I08 of the transfer relay ATR With the transfer relay ATRnow energized'the code storage relays of the bank A are disconnectedfrom the code bus at the contacts 45, Ill) and III of the transfer relayATRF, and with. the transfer repeater relay ATRQR energized this codebus is connected to the relays 0f the storage relay of bank A throughfront contacts 44, H2 and N3 of the transfer repeater relay A'I'RFR.Picking'up of the transfer relay ATR also recloses the energizingcircuitfor the blocking relay BR at the front contact 94 of this transferrelays The picking up of transfer repeater relay ATR R opens the stickcircuit of relay ATR R and makes this latter relay wholly as a result ofwhich the relays IN, 2?

and .iN'of the push button storage relays are energized. In response tothis energization of the relays IN, 2P and 3N the delivery relay CCSP isenergized to cause this code stored in this push button relay group. tobe transmitted to the third bank A3 of storage relays. ,In other words,the; energized condition of relay 2P will cause the relay 2A to beenergized through the following pick-up circuit: beginning at theterminal front contact 40 of' the relay BR, front contact 4| ofgthe'relay CSP, front contact H4 of,-the relay 2P, back contact I I5 ofthe transfer relay ATR front contact I I2 of the transfer repeater relayATR R, through the winding of the relay 2A to the other ter- With therelay 2A energized it will bestuck ,up through a stick circuit includingits'stick contact IIG, the'front contact II'I.of repeater transfer relayATR R, and back contact H8 of the cancelling relay CAN. Also, with relay2A energized the energizing circuitfor the blocking relay BR is'brokenatthe back ;con-' tact 96 of this relay 2A Dropping of the blocking relayBR causes dropping of the push button storage relays IN, 2P and 3N andwill also cause deenergization of the delivery relay CSP.

With; the relay CSP deenergized and the code storage. relay 2A energizedthe following pick-up circuit is closed for the transfer relay ATRbeginning at the terminal back contact 52 of the relay CSP, frontcontact I20 of the relay 2A through the winding-of the transfer ATR tothe other terminal Picking up of the transfer relay ATR prevents thesubsequent picking up of any push button storage relays P or N by reasonof the opening of the back contact 22 in the pick-up circuit of all Pand N-relays. Also, the picking up of the transfer relay ATR causes itsfront contacts I22 and I23 to shunt out the back contacts I03 and I-ZAof the cancelling relay CAN.- A train destination stored in the storagebank A can still be cancelled by energization of the cancelling relayCAN, but the :train destinations stored in storage banks A and A cannotbe cancelled by the cancelling ri'elay CAN.

We now have a car destination or description stored in each of the threestorage banks of storage unit A. Let us now assume that the first carwhich has (been cut from the train by the hump board operator hasproceeded down the hump and has entered the detector track circuitcontaining track relay T (see Fig. 4), the destination of which car isindicated by the illumination of the indicating lamps C and CL shown inFigs. 6 and 2A of the drawings. Since, as heretofore explained, thetrackswitch SW has been operated to its normal position and the track SW hasbeen operated to its reverse position the car is free to move directlyinto track section C (see Fig. 4). As this'ca'r shunts the track relay Tit will cause deenergization of this track relay T (see Figs. 2A and 4),thereby causing the relays NR and RR to be stuck up through stickcircuits including'back contacts 130 and I3I of track relay T and theirrespective stick contacts I32 and I33. Also the opening of the frontcontacts H and T9 of this track relay T opens both the normal andreverse circuit for each of the switch machines SM and SM. Also, thedropping of the relay T results in the picking up of the normallydeenergized track repeater relay T A after ash'ort period of delay. Thispicking up of the relay T A causes deenergization of the second trackrepeater relay T B by the opening of .back contact 1:35 of the relay TA. Before the second track repeater relay T B can open the stickcircuits of the'storage relays A at contact 48 a code impulse istransmitted through the front contact I36 of track repeater relay 'T A,the back contact I31 ofthe third repeater relay T 'C through the frontcontact I38 of the storage .relay 1A through the back contact I39 of theswitch mac'h'ine repeater "relay RWP through the front contact I40 ofthe switch machine repeater relay NWP through the front contact I'M ofthe switch machine repeater relay RWP through the back contact I42 ofthe switch machine repeater relay NWP through wire Hi3, through backcontact I44 of the transfer relay CTR through the back contact I45 ofthe repeater transfer relay CTR R, through theback contact I46 of thetransfer relay "CTR through the winding of the code storage relay JIC'to the other terminal With thisstorage relay I C now energized it willbe stuck up through a stick circuit including the'front contact I'M ofthe track repeater relay T B and the stick contact I48 of the storagerelay IC With this storage relay IC now energized a delay pick-upenergizing circuit, for the transfer re- :lay CTR, is closed: beginningat the terminal v(+) and continuing either through the front contact I50of :relay T A and the front contact 'I5I of the relay T C or through theback contact I59 of the relay T A through the back contact H2 of-relay'RWP front contact 153' of relay NWP front contact I54 of relay RWP backcontact I55 of relay NWP wire I56, back contact I51 of transfer relayC'I'RP, back contact I58 of transfer .rep'eaterrelay .CTR R, frontcontact 1:59 of thestorage relay IC through the winding of the transferrelay CTR to the other terminal of the battery. This pick-up circuitwill of course not be closed until the track repeater relays T A and "TG have .both been picked up due to entrance of the cars or until relay FA has dropped due to leaving. of

the cars. Picking up of the transfer relay CTR by reason of its backcontact IBI makes the stick circuits for the code storing relay bank Cdependent upon the front contact I62 of the repeater transfer relay CTRR. -Also, with the transfer relay CTR energized the code storage relays.of storage bank C are disconnected from the code bus byv the opening ofback contacts MB, Hi3 and IE4 of this relay CTR Also, the picking up ofrelay CTR. energizes the repeater transfer relay CTR R through acircuitincluding the front contact I65 of relay C'IR This relay 'CTR R may thenbe temporarily stuck up through a stick circuit including front contactI50 of relay T A, back contact I5I of relay T O, back contact I60 ofrelay RWP front. contact I66 of relay NWP front contact I67 of relay RWPback contactv I68 of relay NWP wire I 69, and

stick contact I18 of relay CTR R. With the relays I0 and CTR energizedthe following ener- I gizing circuitfor the switch control relay RR isclosed: beginning at the terminal middle contact of the switch machinecontrol lever SM L, front contact ill) of the transfer relay CTR frontcontact HI I of the storage relay IC. back contact I12 of the storagerelay 20 back contact I13 of the storage relay 3C back contact I14 ofthe switch machine control'relay NR through the winding of the switchmachine control relay RR to the other terminal With the switch machinecontrol relay BR energized the switch machine SM is operated through itsreverse wire R, and front contact I of the relay RR and front contactI16" of the detector track relay T to its reverse position. .As soon asthe switch machine SM has completed its stroke and has been fully lockedup the switch machine repeater relay 'RWP is energized thereby closingan energizing -circuit for th lamp DL through front contacts 230 and II9 of relays RE and RWP respectively, in series, thus illuminating thelamp DL. Similarly, with the storage relay IC energized the lamp dassociated with this storage bank C is energized through a circuitstarting from and including front contact 980 of'relay IC back contact ISI of relay 2C and back contact I I82 of relay 3C thus energizing thelamp 11 as indicated in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings.

With thetransfer'repeater relay CTB R picked up stick circuits for thestorage relays of bank C are prepared at front contact I 62 of thisrelay CTR/ Also, the picking up of this transfer relay CTR R connectsthe storage relays of bank C to the code bus through front contacts I45,I84 and H35 of the relay'cTR R.

As the first car orcut of cars enters upontthe track circuit containingtrackrelay T as heretofore explained, the dropping of the second trackrepeater relay T B and the picking up of the third track repeater relayT C in that order causes momentary opening of the stick circuits for thestorage relaysA These storage relays therefore assume their retractedpositions so the code formerly stored in storage bank A has beencancelled and in so dropping. deenergize the transfer relay A'IR so thata new code may be later stored therein. Dropping of the transfer A'I'R,closes the stick circuits for the relays 2A and 3A at back contact I81of relay 'ATR before it causes opening of the front contact I02 of therepeater transfer relay ATR R due to deenergization of this repeaterrelay by opening of front contact 59. The relays 2A and 3A thus remainstuck up through second stick circuits including back contact I81 ofrelay ATR Also, the clos ing of back contact I88 of transfer relay A'I'Rprepares a delivery circuit for delivering a code from storage relays Ato storage relays A at this back contact I88 before a similar deliverycircuit isbroken at the front contact I89 of the repeater transfer relayATR R. I As soon as the third track repeater relay T O is energized dueto the entrance of the train into the track section containing trackrelay T delivery circuits are reclosed at front contact I90 of the trackrepeater relay T C instead of at front contact I93 of relay T B, whichcircuits pass from terminal (4 of the battery, through the front contactI90 or I93, through back contact I9! of therepeater transfer relay ATRJRthrough two parallel'circuit branches one including front contact I92 ofrelay 2A back contact 51 ofrelay A'IR and winding of storage relay 2Aand, the other branch including front contact I93 ofthe storage relay 3Athe back contact 58 of the transfer relay ATR and the'winding of storagerelay 3A With the storage relays 2A and 3A energized due to code storedtherein and with the storage relay IA deenergized the indicating lamp cis againilluminated, but atthis time is illuminated through a differentcode reflecting circuit than was heretofore the case. In a similarmanner as heretofore explained the switch machines SM and SM are againconditioned for operating their associated switches to the normal andreverse position, respectively, in a manner as heretofore explained,except that the control at this time takes place through different codereflecting circuits than was heretofore the case, but since the firstcar and the second car are both destined for track section C (see Fig..4) the switclrmachines will assume the same positions and the lamps CLand 0 will be illuminated as heretofore, although in each case thiscontrol and illumination takes place over different codecharaeterizingcircuits. If the second cutof cars passes over the track switches SW andSW after restoration of the relays T T A, T B and T G to normal byreason of vacancy of the track circuit by the first car a deliverycircuit will be completed by the second picking up of the track repeaterrelay T A. This delivery circuit starts from (-1-), through the frontcontact I36 of the relay T A, back contact E3! of the relay T C throughtwo circuits in multiple one including front contact I95 of relay 2Aback contact I96 of relay RWP front contact I91 of relay NWP frontcontact I98 of relayRWP back contact I99 of relay NWP wire 280,. backcontact I of transfer relay CTR front contact I86 of repeater transferrelay .CTRJR, through the winding of relay 20 and the other branchcontinuing through front 'contact- 202 of storage relay 3A back contact283 of relay RWP front contact 284 of relay NWP front I contact 205 ofrelay RWP back contact 296 of relay;

NWP wire 20?, back contact 208 of transfer relay CTR R', thr'oughthewinding of relay 3C to the terminal These storage relays 2C and 3C willthen be stuck up through stick cir-.

cuits including their own front contact and the contact I62 of therepeater transfer relay CTR R. Also, the front contacts 2"] and 2| I ofthe storage relays 2C and 30 in multiple complete an energizing circuitfor the transfer relay CTR which relay CTR upon picking up opens thecode bus wires at the back'contacts Hi l, ZUI and 2080f this relay andcloses an auxiliary circuit for the transfer relay CTR at the frontcontact I5'I of this relay CTR v Since the two storage banks of thethird storage unit shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings are now fullyoccupied by codes, the lamps d and d both being illuminated in responseto the two storages, no further delivery of a code from the relays bankA to the relay bank .0 can take place, until the first stored indicationhas been passed on to a next storage unit and the storage inthe secondstorage bank C has been transferred to the first storage bank C This ismore particularly true because the back contacts I44, 28! and 208 of thetransfer'relay CTR areopen. If the cars are so closely spaced that athird car might enter section C while unit C is filled to capacity anadditional storage bank may obviously be added.

In a similar manner as just explained the indication stored in the relaybank A consisting of the e code resulting in the energization of onlythe relay 2A is transferred to the relay bank A and results inenergization of the storage relay 2A all in a manner as heretoforeexplained. Ina similar manner depression of the push button PBL by thehump board operator which resulted in the energization of the pushbutton storage relays IN, 2N and 3P will then result in the energizationof the storage relay 3A of the storage bank A in the first storage unitA (see Fig. 2) I v In a similar manner as just described, with the trackswitch SW assuming the proper position (reverse), for reasons heretoforegiven the first ,car will move into the track section D (see Fig. 4) sothat this car may take the proper storage track I or J depending uponthe char- 2 I6 and 2H of the relays 2B and 3D deenergized the indicatinglamps 2' will be energized as shown in Fig. 6 of. the drawings.

As should appear from the description of operation heretofore given onlyone train description can be transferred frorn'one storage unit toanother storage unit during a single occupancy of the detector trackcircuit associated with the track switch which separates these storageunits.

This is clear from the fact that storage relays of bank A for instance,cannot deliver a code to storage relays of bank A until the relays ofbank A have dropped, because contacts M, 51 and 58 in the bus wires areopen so long as one of the relays A remains energized to maintaintransfer relay ATR energized. To drop the relays of bank A requires: therelay T B to be down and requires the relay T C' not yet to have beenpicked up in response thereto, as is evident from contact 48.01? relay TB and contact of relay TC, and when this occurs, namely, the opening offront" contact 428, the front contact 533 of this relay is also open andthe delivery circuits for delivering a code from the storage reof bank Ato the storage relay bank A cannot be closed until relay T C picks upand closes its contact MG, and. since contact l3! opens before contactit closes the delivery circuits including this back contact I37 cannotbe closed until the track relay 'I' has been reenergized and deenerglzeda second time. In other words, even though a train description may havebeen transferred from bank A to bank A while the track circuitcontaining track relay I is still occupied, this new description storedin bank A cannot be transferred to unit C until this track circuitbecomes occupied a second time, because contact we of relay T A will beopened before con-tact E3? of relay T G upon clearing of this trackcircuit. In other words, since the transferring of a code from onestorage unit to another is a transient operation accomplished by trackrelay operations through contacts such as I36 and. [3-1 and since thecancelling of the codefrom the first storage unit must occur later andis also a transient track relay operation accomplished by such contactsas 48 and 218, a second transfer cannot take place by the same trackrelay or repeater contacts and consequently a second trans fer cannottake place in response to' .a single track occupancy Putting this indifferent words, the transfer from one unit to another takes place onlyduringtrack occupancy and when the first track repeater relay responds,and cancellation of the code from the first storage relay bank of a unittakes place only upon track occupancy but when the'secondrepeater trackrelayis actuated, so that only one transfer followedby cancellation canoccur during one track occupancy.

Registration cancelling relay The registration cancelling relay CANshown in Fig. 1 of the drawings is employed for the purpose ofcancelling the last storage of train descriptions that has been storedin one of the three relay banks A A or A contained in storage unit Ashown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In order to get a more clearunderstanding of this registration cancelling feature let us assume thata train destination has been stored in each one of the storage banks A Aand A Under this condition each of the transfer relays ATR ATRHR, ATRATRFR and ATR are energized. Depression of the cancelling push buttonCPBwill resultvin the energization of the cancelling relay CAN. The closureof the front contact. 220 of the relay CAN results in the closure of astick circuit for the transfer relay ATR. including its stick contact22!. The closure of the front contact 222 of the relay CAN results inthe closure of a stick circuit for the transfer relay ATP including itsstick contact 223. The opening of the back contact N8 of the relay CANresults in the deenergization of one or more, namely, all that areenergized, of the storage relays in the storage bank A thus cancellingthe indication stored therein. The opening of the back contacts 33 andl24 of this cancelling relay CAN does however not result in thecancellation of any further indication, because these areas-e2 backcontacts are respectively shuntedby con-i tact's E22 and H23 of thestick relay ATR The cancel-ling push button CPBma'y now be released andin response thereto the opening of its front contact 223 of relay CANcauses deenergiza tion of the stick relay ATR The transfer re-j lay ATRis however not deenergized even though. contact 222 in its stick circuitis opened because the pick-up circuit for that stick relay *ATR is stillclosed by reason of front contact Hi5. of

the transfer relay ATR3R included in series with 7 one or more of thefront contacts of the storage relays of bank A The train destinationstored in storage bank A and storage A are therefore still held in thesestorage banks; If, however, the operator again depressed the can cellingpush button CPB resulting in a second' energization of the cancellingrelay CAN the stick circuits for the relays of bank A. will be broken,because the front contact I22 of the relay ATR is now open and no longershunts back contact N3 of relay CAN, as a resuit of which the traindestination stored in storage bank A is cancelled. This second pi up ofthe cancelling s5 A relay CAN. If. now the cancelling push button CPB isagain released and the cancelling relay CAN is again deenergizedtheopening of its front contact 222 will result in deenergization of:the

transfer relay A'IR, and since the storage relays A have all beendeenergizecl the pick-up circuit for the relay AIRZ' is open, this relayA'IR. is deenergized upon the opening of the front contact 222 of therelay CANQ This secondenergiza tion of the cancelling relay CAN did notcan-- cel the train destination stored in. the storage relay bank Abecause the relays A are stuck up through a front contact' iB of thetrack re: peater relay T B, this relay T B.

transfer relay ATR bearing in mind that relay ATR. did not drop untilafterthe second deen being held energized. through the frontcontact 225of thev 1 ergization of relay CAN. Upon this second de energizationofthe cancelling relay CAN its back contact, I2 2 is again closedbefore'thefront contact 225 of relay A'IR is'opened, so that the trackrepeater relay T B is normally maintained energized through this backcontact 5 it. Should, i

however, the hump board operatordesire to can-' cel the indicationsstored in the storage bank A he may depress the cancelling push buttonCPB a third time, resulting in a third energization of I the cancellingrelay CAN. This third energiza+ tion of the relay CAN through theopening of its back contact I24, the front contacts I I23 and,-

225 of the relays ATR, and AIR? now being open,

results in the deenergization of the track rep eater relay T B causingopening of its front contact 48 and deenergization of the storage relaysof storage bank A Push button storage cancelling button The push buttonPRO is employed to cancel an improper or jumbled code stored in the pushbutton relays P and N. For instance, if the. operator were to depresstwo push buttons, such as PBF and PEG, at the'sarne time he would i.

simultaneously pick up the relays IP, 2P, SP and- 3N. This is not a truecode because the third code elementcannot be both positive and negativerAlsofunder this condition none of'the inease. depress they push buttonstorage relay canceiling push; button P30 and will thereby de energizeall of the pushbutton relays P and N by opening all of their stickcircuits, In this connection if'it isdesiredv to havethe code stored inthe push button relays to be definitely checked before it is'allowedtotransfer into one of the storage banks illustrated in Figs. Zand 2A anexecuting push" button may be added/Thisexeouting push button'wouldinclude a normallyopen 15 contact, biased open, includedin series withthe contact M of the delivery relay' CSPJ .If such "'delay release;respectively, of the transfer and I repeater'transier relay. "For"instance; delay imposed'in thepicking up of the transfer relay anexecuting push button is employed the hump board operator would,. afterfirst checking the code whichihe intended to set u,p,by* observingwhether the proper lamp to Z is lighted, depress the execution pushbutton (not shown).

:'I 'here are two wiresin the system of the present'inventioniwhich havebeen designated Delay Pu 'and Delay Refmeaning delay pick-up and ATR"after picking up of one or more the associated storage relays -untildropping *offrelay 'CSP thereby delaying closure of this pick-upcircuit. This feature prevents the train description identifying aparticular from" being registered in two adjacent storagebanks. Also,the relay ATR R is slow to I release because of. the provision of astick circuit includingawfrohtcontact' 52 of the relay'CSP.

By this construction positive transfer or delivery action will takeplace, thus preventing the jum-'. bling upof a code as by the deliveryof'a second code before a first code has been completely transferred' tothe storagebank in advance.

This delay release circuitis therefore useful to hold the transferrepeater relays stuck up independently of their associated storagerelays and to prevent closing of the storage relay bus wires at a pointbeyond the last occupied storage bank, so that an in-co-ming descriptionwill not register in the wrong bank. I The applicantshave thusmadeacomplete disclosure of a'hump' yard car classification system showingconventionally apparatus capable of automatically operating the trackswitches and indicatingthe car destination, for each ofa large number ofcars or cuts-of-cars proceeding down 'the hump, and functioning toalloweachcar to take any one-off sevenstorage tracks; It is of I courseunderstood that at the last storage unit the stored indication of afirst train stored therein will be'cancelled and disappear upon entrance-of the car uponthe detector track circuit associated with, such unit,the cancellation taking'place even though this indication is notthereafter stored in'anext storage unit, there being no such nextstorage unit.

in Figs. 2, 2A and 3 employ a full set of three storage relays there areinstances where these relays may be reduced to two.

Fig. 6 of thedrawings. For instancasinceevery :lcode that canreachunitB, namely, codes This is apparent from Although each of the storagebanks'illustrated and is such that the first storage relay of thebank'is energized in each instance this first relay-of each storagerelay bank of storage unit B may be entirely. omitted. For unit B notboth thefirst and second code relay may however be omitted becauseanimproper indica tion wouldthen at timeslbe given. Also, since the onlycodes than can reach storage unitE are codes and the first relay of eachbank in storage unit E1 may be omitted.

Having thus shown and described one embodi ment of the present inventionand, having dis-- closed thatembodiment rather specifically it isdesired to be understood that the invention is not limited to thisparticular showing. For in-} stance,'instead of having the traindescriptions I stored in one storage unit capable of selecting any oneof two or three tracks and transferring such description to one of twoor three storage units, four or five tracks may be selected and thedescription passed onto a storage unit corresponding to the trackselected. 'Also, if desired, some of the train description lampsillustrated may be omitted and if a more specific indication is desiredoi the storage track a particular car is'to take,this may be indicatedinstead of merely in-., dicating which track section the next car is toenter as illustrated in the drawings. How these lamps, in order toindicate the 1 storage track,

would be connected is obvious since avcode identifying circuit for eachcode has been illustrated vfor each storage relay bank. In view oftheforegoing it is desired to be understood that various additions,omissions and modifications may be made to adapt the invention to theparticular problems encountered in practicing the invention withoutdeparting'from the spirit and scope of the invention except asdemandedbythe scope of the appended claims.

What we claim as'new is: I 1. In combination, a'car classificationsystem.

including a track" layout having a plurality of routes each starting atan entering track section and terminating in a particular storage track'and each route having a plurality of track switchesflincluded therein,atra'in describer unit for each track section leading to points of ma'nassociated track switch, each train describer unit comprising aplurality of' storage relays which by their condition of energizationdefine'the destitration of the train stored in such unit, a switchmachine for each track switch, switch repeater contacts for each trackswitch which contacts by their position reflect the position assumedby iv such switch, means for controlling each switch machine to operate itsassociated track switch to aposition in accordance with thetrain destinay tion stored in the train describer unit associated with the tracksection leading toxthe particular track switch controlledby such switchmachine and including circuits each including contacts of atleast twostoragerelays, and, transfer circuits for transferring a traindestination from the train describer unit associated with the lead'track to another train describer unit associated with the track sectionintowhich said track switch directs traffic each circuit includingsomeof said switch repeating contacts for that particular track switchand closed only-if that particular track switch assumes a position todirect a car to said 1 track section.

. 2.. In combination, a carclassification system routes. each; startingat an entering track section and terminating in a particular. storagetrack including-a track layout having a pluralityof bination witha tracklayout including an e'ntering tra'c'k "and a -plurality of storagetracks, track therewith a back contact of said execution way,

an' energizing circuit for each of said storage relays including a frontcontact of oneof the relays of aparticularpair of push button'relays,

\ aback contact-of said transfer relay and also in-' track routesconnecting said entering track witheach of said storage tracks eachroute of which includes a plurality of track switches, a train'describer unit for each track switch, ine'a-n's associated with eachtrain describer unit for controlling'and operating its associated trackswitch to a position-to setup a route portion at that point inaccordance with'the destination of the: traindescribed 'bysuch traindescriber unit; and circuit means "associated with some of said traindescriber units and including the switch re-,

peating contacts of the switch associated with such train describer unitfor transferring the" train descriptionstored in such traindescriberunit to the train d'escriber. u'nitassociated with the nexttrack-switch in advance in'such route'; and selected by the positionthen assumed by' the trackswitch having said switch repeating contactsassociated therewith.

'14. In "a train classification system, the combination with a'tracklayout including an entering' track and a plurality of'storage tracks,trackv routes connecting said entering track with each of said storagetracks each route'of which in-" cludes a plurality of track switches, adetector "track circuit for each track switch, a train olescriber'unitfor each track switch, means associated with each train describer unitfor controlling and operating its associated track switch to a positionto set up aroute portion at that point in accordance with thedestination of the train described by such train describer, and

circuit means associated with some of said train 'describer units andincluding switch repeating,

contacts of the switch associated with such train describe'r unit andalso including contacts'controlled in accordance with the conditionof'oc-' cupancy ofthe detector track circuit-associated with the switchhaving such switch repeater contacts and effective whensuch detectortrack circuit controlled contacts are closed for trans-' ferring thetrain description stored in such train describer'unitto theltrain'describer unit associated with the track switch next in advance in theroute characterized by such train description.

15. Inc; train classification system, the com-' rails connecting'saidentering track with each of said storage tr'acks by routes each ofwhich" in cludes ap'lurality of track switches, a traindescriber unitfor each track switch, means associated "with 'each train describer unitfor controlling and operating its associated track switch to a positionto set up a route portion at that pointin accordance with the route forthe destination of the train described by such train de-'scriberurlit;-'and circuit means associated with someof said traindescriber units and including track circuit controlled contacts of theirassociated switches and switch repeatingcontacts re-' flectingloytheirposition the position of the switch associated with-such-train describerunit for transierri'ngthe' train description stored in such traindescriber unit to-the train 'describer unit associatedwith th'etrack-switch next in I age tracks through -routesea-ch' route includinga plurality of track switches; .a' detector'track circuit for e'achtrack switchjswitch repeating.

advance inthe-route characterized"by suchYtrainfi description andselectejdloy the' po'si tionthen as sumed by the track switch havingsaidswitchre peating contacts associated therewith,saidlast= mentionedmeans including means for permitting -5 I only one train description tobe'tran'sferredifor: I each train passing over'suchtrack switch; 16. Ina train classification system; thecom" bination-with a track layoutincluding 'ane'nter ing track and a plurality of. storage tracks, trackI rails connecting said entering track with each s of said storagetracksby routes each of whichin i cludes a plurality of trackswitches,'- a="detector track circuit for each track switch, switcl nrepeating contacts "for each track'switchpa train describer unit foreach'tra'ck switch each train 11 s describer' unit including a pluralityof storagejag relays which in combination by their condition of'e'nergizatio'n describe a train'f destination, meansassociated witheach train'describer unit for controlling and operating its associatedtrack? switchto a positionto set-up arouteup'ortion'at that point inaccordance withlthedejstination of iv the train described'by thestoragerelays of such-g2 train" describe:- in 'con'ibination;- and-means'associated with, some of said train des'cribe'r units and includingtrack circuit controlled contacts of the with the track switch next inadvance in theii route"selected 'by the'position' then assumedfby" H thetrack switch having 1 said" switch Irepeating 35' contactsassociatedtherewith by energizing the corresponding storagerelaysl ofthe train (lo-".- scriber unit'for such switch" nextin advance, said-Elast mentioned means including"means forper-f: mitting' only one trainvdescription to be' transierred for each train passing-oversuch trackSwitch, f i 1'. 17 In combination; atrain d'escriloerunitgin-j:

eluding aplurality of storage relays which by being energized ordeenergiz'eddescribe the 'desti-itf nation of a train; a'tr'ack switchassociatedwith". such train describer unit; a switch machine foroperating said track switch; ainormal circuit for. i sai d'switch inachine which if closed causes 0p) 'eration of said switch machine toitsnormalposi tion; a "reverse circuit for said-1 switch: :ma'chine whichifclosed 'causes operation of said'switch machine to its reversepositi'onf'athree -positiony;

manually controllable contact which if in"'one r' I v ibsl i closingsaid normall'said-"reve'r'se or? neither said normal or said reversecircuits de'pending'f on the i I manual c0ntrol."'-.j I I 18.Inaftrainclassification'system; in c'Qmbination with a track-layoutincluding anentering trackf andai plurality ofi s'torage traclss, saidentering track being'connected' to sai'd'f'storcontacts for each trackswitch; a traindescriberk unit for fea ch track'; switch, each" unit"having aif storage bankdncl'udin'g a plurality ofstorage re-;7

is: I

inoluding ;a" front contact of the corresponding j storage relay oftheunit next in the rear, includ-\ lays; a pickiupi'circuit' fo'r"eachstorage relay ing contacts'closed only'when the detector trackh'suchunit in the rear is assoin the rear directs trailicto the switchwith which such; unit isassociated a stickcircuit for each storage relayincluding contacts closed when the ,detectortrack .circuit for thetracl;switch with the first storage bank" oi each storage 'unit in-If eludingits'f'own' front contacts and also includ- '40.

which such unitis associated'is unoccupied; and means associated witheach train describer unity" I i two positio'n multipie contact switch toa'posi tioh cfor controlling and operating its associated track switchto a position to set up a route; portion at that' 'point conformingto'the route leading to the destination for the train described in suchunit. I

l9. a train classification. system; the coin- I binati'on with a tracklayout including an entering track and a plurality of storage tracks,said entering track being connected to said storage tracks throughroutes, each routeincluding a plurality of track switches; a detectortrackcircu'it for each v track switch; switchrepeating contacts foreach'track switch which by their con- I 'tact making ,con'dition reflectthevposition assumedby the track switchja train describer unit for eachtrack switch; each unit having a pluzraiity of, storage banks eachbank'including' a plurality of storage relays; a pick-up circuit foreach storage'ielay forthe first bank of each unit including a frontcontact of the corresponding 'storage 'rel.'ay of theistorage" bank nextin the rear a stick circuit'for feach' storage relay or ing contactsclosed onlywhen'the' detector-track circuit of the track switch withwhich such unit is associated is unoccupied;fa pick-up circuit for eachstorage relay of the last storage bank of each unit" including a frontcontact of the cor-f responding storage relay of the firststorage bankof the unit next in therear and also including contactsclosed only whenthe detector track circuit for the trackswitch with which'such unit inthe rear associatedis occupied and also including switch repeatingcontacts for such track switch in the rear closed only if, such switchin c the rear assumes a positionfto direct trafiic to the track switchwith which such unit is-associated;

a stick circuit forleach storage relay for the last storage bank of eachunitincluding a front stick contact of such storagerelay and alsoincluding contacts which are opened a short time after the storage bankin advance becomes vacated; and

meansassociated with eachfj train describer unit for controlling'ahdoperatingits associated'track switch to a position to set up a routeportion at that point constituting a part of the route leading to thedestination for the train described in such unit.

' 20.:Incombinatioh; a plurality-of train describer units, each unitcomprising a plurality of storage relays which by'being energized ordeenergizeddescribe the destination of a train, and a transferrelay'having contacts, in the input transfer pick-up circuits of saidstorage .relays for allowing or not allowing a train description to beregistered in such unit; of a two-' position multiple contact switchconnecting the out-put transfer wires of one unit 'to the in-'-put wiresof one or the other of the two other units otherjof the other twofofsaid train describer ,units depending on' theposition of said two-posi'ticn. n uitiple contact switch; and means asso- "ciated' with said onetrain describer 'unit for ng and operating the track" switch aswith'suchunit to a position to s'etup a A leading to the destination fortheftrain s il ied'in such unit andin turnoperating said respondingtothe new position assumed 'acl; switch.

21. In combination; a track-switch connecting lead section 'to twodiverging track sections; a

gdetect or track circuit'associated with said track switch; three traindescriber unitseach com prising a plurality of storage relays, andatransfer relay one associated with each of said sections; means forcontrolling and operating said track switch by the train describer unitassocil ated with said lead sectionto a position to set up a route oversaidjswitch inconformity with the train destination stored in said traindescriber 4 I unit; a front contact on each of said storage re laysswitch; repeater, contacts reflecting the position of said trackswitch;a pick-up circuit for each storage relay of the unit associated with oneof said diverging sections including a front con} tact of thecorresponding storage-relay,of; theunit of the lead section, said switchrepeater contacts closed when said'lead section is connected by saidtrack switch to that diverging section. and also including back contactsofjthe transfer-relay of the" unit associated with that divergingsection; a pick-up circuit for each storage relay of the unitassociatedwith the othe-r of;saiddi-- verging" sections including" the same frontconwhen said lead'section is connected by said track vtactofthe-corresponding storagej'relay oi the" lead section, said switchrepeater contacts-closed,

switchto the other of saiddiver'ging sections and also including backcontacts of the transfer relay of the unit associated with the other ofsaid diverging sections; each of said pick-up circuits including contactmechanism closed 'on1y mo-. inentarily each time said detector trackbecomesi occupied; whereby a train description ,causes'operation of thetrack switch and is thentran'sferred from one describer unit to anotherin ac- I cordance with the route over which. such described train moves.v

22. In a train classification system; the coinbination'with a trackswitch; a train describer unit associated with said track switch andincluding a plurality of storage relays, said storage relays by theircondition of e'nergizationcharacterizing the route identified by thetrain destina tion stored therein; means for controlling and operatingsaid track switch in accordance with the route characterized bythe traindestination" stored in said unit; switch repeating contacts forindicating theposition assumed by said track switch; a traflic relaywhich by'the condition of repeater traffic relay controlled 'bylsaidtraflic relay; a second repeater traffic .relay controlled by said firstrepeater tramc relay; stick circuits ior, said storage relays eachincluding a normally closed contact ofsaid first'repeater ,traflicrelay,

whereby operation of said first repeater traifici relay will deenergizesaid storage relays to cancel the train description stored-therein; andcircuit meansincluding a normally open contact of said trafilc relay, anormally closed contact of said second repeater traflic relay and saidswitch repeating contacts, for when actuated transferring the traindescription stored in said train describfle r-to a subsequent traindescriber selected by said switch repeating contacts before said stickcir-' cuits arebroken 23. In a train describer controlled switch controlsystem; the combination with a track layout including twosuccessivelylocated track switches; a traindescriber unit associated with each ofsaid switches, each unit including a plurality of storage relays whichby their condition of energization store and describe. the destinationof a train; a detector track circuit associated with each ,of saidswitches including a. track relay; a

repeater track relay controlled byeach track re' lay; a switch machinefor each of said track switches; means controlled by the storage relaysof each of said units to control the associated switch machine to aposition in conformity with the route to the destination stored in suchunit;

switch repeating contacts associated with the second of said trackswitches; a pick-up circuit ioreachstorage relay of the first unitincluding a front contact of the corresponding storage relay of thesecond unit, a normally open contact of said track relay and saidswitchrepeating constactsy a stick circuit for each of the storage relays. ofsaid second unit each including its own fro'nt contactanda-normallyclosed contact of said repeater track relay; whereby the traindesitination stored insaid second unit may be transferred to said firstunit before the storagerelays of said second unit are dropped by openingof said.

stick circuitsfor the storage relays of saidsecond unit and whereby thetrain destination stored'in jsaidsecondiunit will by controlling itsassociated track switch and the switch repeating contacts associatedtherewith and controlled thereby de-' shall be transferred'to said firstunitfl .eimine if the train destination' stored therein. v

24. In combination; a car classification system including a tracklayouth'aying auplurality routes each starting at an-entering tracksection;

and. terminating in 'a particular storage track and each routehavin'g aplurality otftr'acl; switches therein, a train describer unit for eachtrack sec-a .tionlleading to-point's of one or-more associated trackswitches, each train describer unit haying a plurality of storage relayswhich in combination by theircondition of energization defineithe] traindestinationstored in such .unit,..a switch machine for each trackswitch, switch" repeater =contacts for each track switch which by"theirv position EQflGCEsHthG position assumed by 'such switch, meansiorcontrolling each switch .ma-

stored in the train describer unit associated with the track sectionleading to, the track switch con-' trolled byisuch switch machine;circuitsr r transferring a train destination from one train describerunit to another unit" associated with the track section into .whichthe". track switch o 1"- i switches controlled ibyfsaid one traindescriber unit direct tfa'flic including said switch repeating chine inaccordance with theit'rain' destination contacts. fori'the track switchor switches cone 1 trolled byflsaid' one train describer unit, and

NELSON'B, COLEY.

